Out for five months? Make that two – Iose

Brayden Iose thought his Super Rugby Pacific season was over when he broke his wrist in the Hurricanes’ shock defeat to Moana Pasifika in round five.

The promising No 8 was told by his surgeon that he faced up to five months on the sidelines after suffering the injury on his starting debut, but a quicker than expected recovery has seen Iose return a week out from the quarterfinals.

Iose has been named to start in the Hurricanes’ final round clash against the Force in Perth tonight as they chase a home quarterfinal.

The 23-year-old’s return is a welcome boost for the Hurricanes, who have been hit hard by illness, with coach Jason Holland, Jordie Barrett and Ruben Love unable to make the trip after being struck down with the flu.

Iose will be part of a new-look loose forward trio featuring Caleb Delany at blindside and Du’Plessis Kirifi at openside, with returning captain Ardie Savea set to provide impact off the bench in the second half.

‘‘When you get a player of Brayden’s class and quality back into your squad it’s a good thing,’’ said assistant coach Chris Gibbes, who will take the helm with Holland back in New Zealand.

‘‘I’ve got to keep stressing there’s good competition in these positions. Devan [Flanders] is not far away, Reed Prinsep is not far away, so at the end of the season we’re starting to get guys back from long-term injuries, which is great.’’

Iose said he was delighted he could make it back before the end of the season, giving him a chance to put his hand up for a quarterfinal next weekend.

‘‘It’s been quite an interesting process,’’ he said. ‘‘I was told by the surgeon at the start that it would be five months but it’s been eight weeks.’’

So how did he manage to fast-track his recovery and turn a five-month injury into a two-month one?

‘‘It’s a combination of things. Just the work that the S&C [strength and conditioning coach] and the physios have been putting in and having clear targets that we were going to hit.

‘‘I was given this ultra-sound

What: Super Rugby Pacific

Who: Hurricanes v Force

Where, when: HBF Park, Perth; midnight tonight

Force: Jake McIntyre, Toni Pulu, Bryon Ralston, Richard Kahui, Manasa Mataele, Reesjan Pasitoa, Ian Prior, Jackson Pugh, Tim Anstee, Fergus Lee-Warner, Jeremy Thrush, Ryan McCauley, Santiago Medrano, Andrew Ready, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Feleti Kaitu’u, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Izack Rodda, Jack Winchester, Michael McDonald, Kyle Godwin, Brad Lacey.

Hurricanes: Josh Moorby, Wes Goosen, Bailyn Sullivan, Billy Proctor, Salesi Rayasi, Aidan Morgan, TJ Perenara (c), Brayden Iose, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Caleb Delany, Justin Sangster, James Blackwell, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Pouri RatekeStones. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Blake Gibson, Ardie Savea, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Teihorangi Walden.

machine that I put on my wrist every day and it was up in the air whether or not it would help, but I feel like it’s been beneficial to my healing and since I’ve got my cast off the therapy that I’ve been getting has been really good.’’

The Hurricanes head into the final round with a spot in the quarterfinals already secured, but will still have something to play for if another result goes their way.

If the Fijian Drua can upset the Chiefs in Lautoka this afternoon, the Hurricanes will have a chance to break into the top four if they beat the Force, who must win to have any hope of playing finals rugby.

The Hurricanes sit fifth on 38 points, three points below the Chiefs. They can finish as high as fourth and as low as seventh.

‘‘The Force are a big, physical team,’’ Iose said. ‘‘The game on Tuesday, they showed what they can do when they get a maul going. ‘‘So the preparation around me has just been focusing on my role and making sure I nail the physicality.’’

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have confirmed winger Wes Goosen, who will wear the No 14 jersey against the Force, will be departing at the end of the season to take up a contract with Scottish club Edinburgh.

The last time Liverpool played Real Madrid in Paris an unlikely hero stepped up in Alan Kennedy, who charged forward from left back and scored the only goal.

Memories of that European Cup final in 1981 were outlined to Mohamed Salah this week, culminating in a question about who might emerge as a surprise match-winner in tomorrow’s meeting in the French capital 41 years later.

‘‘Hopefully me,’’ said Salah in response, casting aside the possibility of any shock element. The Egyptian striker is clearly in no mood for romance. Not when it is revenge that he truly wants.

It was a two-word answer that revealed plenty about his state of mind, underlining his insatiable appetite to be the one who shines on the biggest stage.

Salah’s desire to have the chance to punish Real is borne out of Liverpool’s last meeting in a Champions League final with the Spanish side in 2018.

Back then, he fell foul of Sergio Ramos in the first half. The Real defender’s challenge left Salah with a shoulder injury and he was inconsolable as he trudged off the pitch. Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat would be digested by their talisman while he was in a Kyiv hospital.

‘‘I remember when I went out after 30 minutes or something it was the worst moment of my career,’’ Salah said. ‘‘I was really, really down after that.

‘‘I had had a good season, but playing in the Champions League final and coming off after 30 minutes was the worst thing that could happen to any player. After the game I knew the result because I was in the hospital. I was like, ‘we cannot lose the game in that way’.

‘‘I never had that feeling before in football, especially because it was the first Champions League final for most of us.

‘‘We were very disappointed but after that summer we came back and talked to each other. Hendo [Jordan Henderson] and Milly [James Milner] talked in the dressing room if I remember right and said, ‘we go again – for everything’.

‘‘We managed to win it the year after [against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid] so that was a kind of revenge in a way. We managed it in the best way possible.’’

Salah has done little to hide his desire to redress events in the

Mohamed Salah on the injury he suffered in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid

Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Ukraine four years ago.

On the night that Liverpool beat Villarreal to seal their passage into the final, the 29-year-old had stated his preference to meet Carlo Ancelotti’s Real side rather than Manchester City, who were playing in the other semifinal the following evening.

When Real progressed, he publicly vowed to settle a score and the sentiment behind those comments, Henderson suggested, had surprised the Liverpool dressing room.

It is a feeling that has only been strengthened by the failure of the quadruple bid with Liverpool having been pipped by a point to the Premier League title by Manchester City.

‘‘I am very motivated,’’ Salah said. ‘‘After what happened with Madrid last time and also after what happened on Sunday. Everyone is motivated to win the Champions League.

‘‘This is an unbelievable trophy for us and every season we have fought for it since I have been here.’’

Salah has scored a remarkable 34 times in 58 Champions League appearances for Liverpool and has scored 31 goals this season, 23 in the Premier League to share the Golden Boot with Son Heungmin, of Spurs. Only once, in his first season at Anfield, has he scored more in a single campaign – 44 goals in 2017-18.

Yet he goes into the final having scored only four goals in his past 19 matches for Jurgen Klopp’s side, a period which coincided with Egypt’s failure to reach the World Cup finals.

Egypt lost on penalties to Senegal in a qualifying match in March – just as they had in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February – with Salah missing his spot kick as the home fans sought to distract him by shining lasers in his face.

He dealt with those bitter disappointments in the only way he knows.

‘‘I was really disappointed after what happened with the national team,’’ he said. ‘‘Then I just came back to England, I think the day after it I was training. I didn’t want to think about it and just wanted to play in the Watford game.

‘‘At that time I thought, ‘there are three or four other trophies you can win. Just go for them’. ‘‘And I gave it my best.

‘‘In my mind I am just realistic and trying to think positive all the time. After Egypt, I thought, ‘we have the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, Champions League, Premier League’.

‘‘There is nothing else you can do, so you try and do your best for the team. I think as a team we are doing good. I am having a good season, a very good one, actually. I just try to help the team win games. That is the most important thing for me.’’

And while that is true, Salah hopes he is the one who reduces Real to tears on this occasion.

– The Times

‘‘It was the worst moment of my career. I was really, really down after that.’’